Cache Valley Family Magazine Holiday 2016

H O L I D AY 2 0 1 6

Local Baker Shares Love From Her Kitchen p. 20

Inside Protecting Your Home for the Holidays p. 6 Holiday Gift Guide p. 8-19 Making a Difference: Cache Community Food Pantry p. 26 5 Ways to Prevent Illness This Holiday Season p. 36

S E C I R P LOW

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From the Editor:

At the beginning of 2016, I made a commitment that I believe has improved my life significantly. Each day I began jotting down things that I am thankful for. Even as my schedule got busier, and the writing part lessened, I still focused on these things each morning and night, making a conscious effort to honor and give thanks for the goodness in my life.

Among the things I am extremely thankful for are you, the readers of Cache Valley Family Magazine. I appreciate your comments when I see you in town, your e-mails and your involvement in social media by liking photos and sharing our posts. These are the things that keep our team motivated.

We hope you will continue to enjoy our magazine.

As it should be, the Holiday Issue of Cache Valley Family Magazine is always a feel-good publication, in which we write about holiday traditions, toys for kids of all ages, holiday goodies and organizations that are doing good in our community. I feel lucky that we’re ringing in the holidays this year with a big-hearted spirit like Margaret Gittins on our cover.

From the Cache Valley Family Magazine family to yours, we wish you a season of joy and thankfulness as you celebrate this most wonderful time of the year.

emily

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What’s INSIDE PUBLISHER & EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Emily Buckley COMMUNITY EDITOR Schae Richards COVER PHOTOGRAPHY Kylee Ann Photography PHOTOGRAPHY Mandy Bagley CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Mark Anderson Tara Bone Emily Buckley Sherelle Christensen Michael Cole, OD Josh Durrant, DDS Jeannine Groll Jordyn Haroldsen Dr. Barrett Labrum, DO Kinsey Love Sarah Lyons Emily Merkley Breanne Miller Jenda Nye Schae Richards Frank Schofield BreeAnn Silcox Lindsay Sousa Joshua Timothy Adam Winger GRAPHIC DESIGN Rachel Cottrell WEBSITE DESIGN Kite Media Cache Valley Family Magazine is a free, trusted resource designed to inform, serve and enrich local parents and families throughout Cache Valley. Material in this publication is copyright 2016, Cache Valley Family Magazine. All rights reserved. Reproduction without permission of the publisher is prohibited. The views expressed in the magazine are the views of the writers and do not necessarily reflect those of the publisher.

Please send all editorial correspondence to info@cachevalleyfamilymagazine.com or by mail to PO Box 6831, North Logan, UT 84341. All correspondence is sent on a non-confidential basis and Cache Valley Family Magazine shall be free to reproduce, publish, edit and/or use any such communications. All materials become property of Cache Valley Family Magazine.

PHONE (435) 764-0962 MAILING ADDRESS PO Box 6831 North Logan, UT 84341 EMAIL info@cachevalleyfamilymagazine.com WEBSITE cachevalleyfamilymagazine.com FACEBOOK facebook.com/ cachevalleyfamilymagazine YOUTUBE youtube.com/cachevalleyfamilymag INSTAGRAM cachevalleyfamilymag TO ADVERTISE call (435) 764-0962 or email

Featured Stories: Holiday Gift Guide: Gift Giving On a Kid-Friendly Budget — p. 8 How to Give Gifts Without Overspending — p. 10 Books for Everyone on Your List — p. 12 2016’s Top Toy and Game Picks — p. 12 Baby Gift Guide — p. 14 Holiday Gift Ideas for Neighbors and Teachers — p. 16 Become a Gifting Legend by Visiting Your Local Library — p. 18 A Taste of Love: Local Baker Turns Hobby into Business — p. 20

An Important Step to Solving Reading Difficulties — p. 22 Making Memories That Last Longer Than Gifts — p. 28 High Levels of Home Ownership Create a Healthy Economy — p. 29

Overcoming Dental Phobia and Anxiety — p. 30

Simplify Your Food Preparations for the Holidays — p. 32

Grow Bulbs Indoors this Winter — p. 34 5 Ways to Prevent Illness — p. 36

Stay Safe in Winter Sports — p. 38

In Every Issue: Safe Families: Protect Your Home During the Holidays — p. 6 Family Firsts: Reevaluate Family Traditions — p. 7 Making a Difference: Cache Community Food Pantry: Investing in Second Chances — p. 26 Education: Cache Education Foundation Reaches $6 Million Milestone — p. 24 Three Tips to Help Your Student Start the New Year Right — p. 25 From the Farmer’s Wife: Holiday Sugar Cookies — p. 37

Cache Valley Family Magazine is sponsored by:

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C a c h e Va l l e y F a m i l y M a g a z i n e | H o l i d a y 2 0 1 6

PROTECT YOUR HOME DURING

THE HOLIDAYS As cooler weather starts to roll in, families begin to celebrate the holidays by planning family gatherings, going on vacation and buying gifts for loved ones. These seasonal activities bring more opportunities and motives for criminals to enter your home while you’re away and steal your valuables and gifts. A good percentage of thefts and break-ins are crimes of opportunity.

Doors or windows were unlocked, garages were left open or valuables were left in a vehicle in plain sight. By being proactive, you can avoid many of these situations.

Keep the following tips in mind to minimize the chance of someone robbing your residence.

• Put your mail on hold and arrange to have your neighbors pick up your newspapers. Piles of mail and newspapers sends an obvious message that you aren’t home.

Joshua Timothy Cache County Sheriff’s Office • Postpone posting on social media about your vacations or family plans until you arrive back home. Posting about our lives gives thieves a timeline of when you will be gone.

• Leave a light or television on while you are gone to make it appear that someone is home. Newer technology has made this option more affordable.

• Install a security system or motion sensing lights.

• Keep valuables out of plain sight. If the valuables can be seen through your windows they may attract a break in.

• Install smart light bulbs or timers. These can mimic a presence in your home by turning lights on and off.

• Secure your windows and sliding glass doors with a wooden dowel or metal pins/nails to prevent them from being pried open.

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REEVALUATE FAMILY TRADITIONS Tara Bone, contributing writer

Do thoughts of the busy holiday season fill you with dread? Does a gift-eating Elf on the Shelf haunt your dreams? Is anyone else tired… before the festivities even begin?

Life is full with many good things, but the holidays put it into overdrive. We’re all working hard to create magical holiday memories, but sometimes we add too many traditions and feel that “tradition overload.” If this is the case, it may be time to evaluate and prioritize. Our family had to do this for the first time a few years ago when my husband wanted to introduce another holiday tradition.

Every year of his childhood, he and his siblings created luminaries that lined their neighborhood street on Christmas Eve. They spent hours filling small paper bags with sand and candles and

lighting them during the night. It was a gift to their neighbors that included a Christmas message and even cleanup the next morning. For years, I heard them bemoan the task and laugh about luminary experiences. I assumed they didn’t enjoy it, but to my surprise my husband did.

I consider the following three things when evaluating holiday traditions: 1. Is it something that will create lasting memories? Will the tradition get family members to talk about it for years?

2. Is it focused on service? For example, my husband’s neighbors loved the luminaries and often shared their feelings about them. They saw the luminaries as a meaningful neighborhood gift.

3. Is it feasible? Doing luminaries

when my husband was a graduate student, or when our children were young wasn’t feasible. But now it’s the perfect tradition to get our boys moving and focused on something besides themselves. We have illuminated our small lane for two years now, and they want to do it again.

In 2016, get the most “bang” out of every holiday tradition. Evaluate where you’re spending your time this season.

Remember, if you’re not feeling the Elf on the Shelf this year, don’t let it out… and feel no guilt about it!

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GIFT GIVING ON A KID-FRIENDLY BUDGET Sarah Lyons, contributing writer

There is nothing more heartwarming than a gift made by a child. Handmade gifts are affordable, fun to make and can be given to parents, grandparents, teachers and siblings. Here are some gifts that are sure to make someone special smile this holiday season.

Putting a homemade cookie mix into a mason jar also makes an easy gift that kids can help with. Finish the jar with a bow and instructions, and it’s ready to be delivered.

Prints

Frame It

All you need is a child’s cooperation, some paint and a little creativity to make a gift that will be cherished for years.

Handprints, fingerprints and even footprints can be used to make a variety of crafts and art. Websites like Pinterest are full of ideas of how to make a handprint into a picture of Santa, a Christmas tree, reindeer or snowman. There are literally hundreds of possibilities. Try putting your child’s prints on an apron, ornament, tea towel, oven mitt or T-shirt to give to a special someone. Follow the directions on the paint to ensure that the design lasts for years. As a bonus, your kids will love getting messy during the process.

Personalized Gifts

Tasty Treats Kids love to help out in the kitchen, so why not put together some tasty treats for some sweet people in your life? Get the kids involved in the holiday baking and put together a plate of cookies the kids can help deliver to a neighbor or friend.

Photos make a favorite gift for any proud aunt, uncle, parent or grandparent. Get kids involved in picking out their favorite photos from last year, and putting them into a collage with handmade drawings or a poem. Try making a scrapbook page that can be framed for a special gift. Picture frames can be made with decorated popsicle sticks, clay or an existing frame can be painted or decorated with mosaic tiles, buttons or other craft supplies. Affordable frames can be found at local thrift stores or the dollar store.

Nothing is more thoughtful than a gift made to fit the recipient’s personal tastes. Talk to your child about the their favorite hobbies and tailor the gift to their interests. For example, use permanent markers to decorate golf balls for the golf lover in your life, decorate a plain coffee mug for the coffee lover in the family, have your child create a special

C a c h e Va l l e y F a m i l y M a g a z i n e | H o l i d a y 2 0 1 6 bookmark for the bookworm you know or use fingerprints to decorate wooden utensils for your favorite chef. Kids can also use scrapbook paper, stickers, craft supplies and cardstock to make custom stationery. Making personalized gifts also helps teach kids to be observant of other’s interests that may be outside their own.

Utilize Beads Beads are an affordable and versatile craft item that can be used for a variety of gifts. Small children can string beads on a pipe cleaner to make a candy cane ornament. Older children can make personalized jewelry or key chains for loved ones.

Pony beads can be melted to make into a suncatcher, mobile or a bowl. With beads, you can give your child some ideas and let their creativity lead them.

Spa at Home Do you know of someone who needs some time to relax? Try mixing equal parts white or brown sugar and olive oil for an easy sugar scrub that is a great gift for anyone who deserves a day at the spa. There are many recipes for homemade soaps, sugar scrubs and bath salts available online. Many varieties you’ll find can be mixed together in just minutes and cost very little to make. This luxurious gift may be quick and affordable, but it is sure to make your recipients feel loved and appreciated.

There is great value in teaching kids to give gifts to others and find ways to serve their peers. They learn to be generous, thoughtful and experience the joy of giving.

Ready to transform yourself?

Melissa did!

HOW TO GAIN WEIGHT DURING THE HOLIDAYS

Jeannine Groll, dietitian certified health coach and owner of Got Health?

This time of year you’ll see lots of articles on how to lose weight and get fit for the holidays and it can sometimes become exhausting to take in. We just want to have fun, eat the fruit cake and relax with no worries, right? Here are my top five tips on how to put on a that typical 7-10 pounds people gain during the holidays. (And, if you want to keep the weight off, we suggest you do just the opposite of these facetious tips!)

1.

Stock up on all your favorite holiday treats.

Whatever it is, you can never have too much.

Whip out the holiday candy, desserts and anything — and everything — you love to eat.

2. Save your appetite. When attending holiday parties, don’t eat all day so you can show up starving and ready to eat. Plant yourself next to the buffet and make it your personal serving table.

3. Drink less water. Water takes up stomach space. Don’t drink it and save room for all the desserts! You only have so much room in that 12-inch space, but, don’t worry, the stomach is expandable to fit in that last eclair.

4. Don’t exercise. It will burn off those calories you are saving for cold days, and give you too much energy. You don’t want to have extra energy, or your spouse will want you to put up Christmas lights, run errands and haul boxes.

Melissa lost 50 pounds, runs marathons and has the energy to keep up with her 8 kids!

Jeannine Groll, RD owner/dietician/certified health coach

Providence • Preston

208-406-9586 www.gothealth.us

• Health Coaching • InBody Composition • Financial Coaching Testing • Group Fitness Classes • Personal Training

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5. Bring your own plate.

Have you noticed how little plates limit your serving size? And who came up with the twobite rule? We can’t be wasting food. It’s much better on our “waist” than in the “waste” basket.

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HOW TO GIVE GIFTS WITHOUT o v e r s p e n d i n g Kinsey Love, marketing manager Lewiston State Bank

The holidays are a special time to make your family and friends feel special with gifts you know they will love. The holidays can also be a time of stress. The amount of love you have for the people around you doesn’t always match the size of your wallet.

Here are 10 ways to ensure you keep your spending in check: 1. Budget. Sometimes creating a budget for gift giving and sticking to it can make you feel like a “scrooge,” but when you make a plan, you won’t wonder whether you’re spending too much or too little.

2. Look at last year’s bills. When you’re budgeting, look at what you spent last year. Assessing this might help you figure out which tips apply most to you.

3. Buy as early as possible. You might get better deals if you watch the items you’re considering buying earlier.

4. Look online for better deals. If you find the perfect gift in a store or another website, scour the Internet for a better deal. You might find that you can get the same item for a better price, or upgrade to a nicer version of what you’re purchasing.

5. Make a game plan before you shop. Keep a note on your phone with a list of people to buy gifts for, and write down extra notes as you go along.

6. Make personalized gifts. Sometimes a small, thoughtful or creative gift is worth more to the receiver.

7. Give a planned experience. Time is a valuable gift.

Make special plans with a family member or friend so that both of you have something to look forward to.

8. Try “one thing you want, one thing you need, one thing to wear and one thing to read.” For families or children, consider putting a limit on the number and types of gifts you will give ahead of time.

9. Find a way to serve during the holidays. Find a local charity to volunteer at, prepare a special meal for a family or prepare packages for local shelters. This may help you focus on a different aspect of the holidays besides gift giving.

10. Don’t buy with a credit card if you don’t have the money to pay it off now. Don’t start the New Year in debt by spending more than you can afford. If you are in debt at the start of next year, it will make it harder to save for next year.

Remember, gift giving is a chance to show those you love how much you appreciate them. Put in a little extra time and thought, and you may be able to avoid stress and overspending during the holidays this year.

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2016’S TOP TOY AND GAME PICKS

It’s BEST GAMES Ages 2-5 • The Sneaky Squirrel Game • Feed the Kitty • Hiss Ages 6-8 • Pie Face • Race to the Treasure • Poop: The Game • Bellz!

Ages 8-12 • Exploding Kittens • Googly Eyes • Splendor • Sneaky Cards

• Mysterium • Watch Ya’ Mouth Family Games: • Ticket to Ride Sails and Rails • Slapzi • Reverse Charades • Harry Potter Trivial Pursuit • Code Names Strategic Games: • Sheriff of Nottingham • Kingdom Builders

not easy to find the right gift for all the good little boys and girls on your Christmas shopping list. Luckily, the buyers at The Book Table in downtown Logan have done the research for you, looking at hundreds of new toys, games and top trends in play to recommend the best for the 2016 holiday season. Remember, kids learn through play, so they have taken care to include many educational and skill-building toys in our selections.

These toys and games can be found at The Book Table at 29 S Main Street in Logan.

BEST TOYS 0-3 Months: • Manhattan Toy, Winkle Rattle • Melissa and Doug, Clean Up Set • Fat Brain, Spin Again • Oball, Go Grippers • Squigz, Pip Squigz • Melissa and Doug, Sing Along Nursery Rhymes Puzzle 3-7 Years: • Learning Journey, Piano and Drums • Scientific Explorer, My First Mind Blowing Science Kit • Great Pretenders, Color Capes

• Playvision, Floof • Melissa and Doug, Wash, Dry and Iron • Melissa and Doug, Food Fun 8-11 years: • Diggin, Slimeballs • Learning Journey, Marble Mania • Hexbug, Jelly Fish • Geospace, Stilts • Geospace, Pogo Sticks • Westmin, Basketball Hoop Shoot • Toysmith, 4M Tin Robot • Elenco, Snap Circuits Arcades

Books for Everyone on Your List Gift-giving days are quickly approaching, and with it comes the yearly task of tracking down the perfect gift for everyone on your list. Luckily, The Book Table in downtown Logan has done the heavy lifting.

They’ve scoured the shelves, consulted the experts (booksellers and review editors), and left no page unturned to find the perfect present for every kind of book lover on your list.

All of these books can be found at The Book Table at 29 S Main Street in Logan.

Best Adult Fiction Books for 2016 Whistler by John Grisham Nightingale by Kristen Hannah Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins Mistborn #6 Bands of Mourning by Brandon Sanderson Rogue Lawyer by John Grisham The Light Between Oceans by M.L. Stedman After You by Jojo Moyes See Me by Nicholas Sparks Two By Two by Nicholas Sparks Dinner Made Easy by Six Sisters Stuff The Magnolia Story by Chip and Joanna Gaines

Best Youth Fiction Books for 2016 Maze Runner Prequel: The Fever Code by James Dashner Michael Vey #6 Fall of Hades by Richard Paul Evans Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets Illustrated Edition by J.K. Rowling Heartless by Marissa Meyer The Crown by Kiera Cass Miss Peregrine #1 Media Tie In by Ransom Riggs Reckoners #3 Calamity by Brandon Sanderson Lunar Chronicles Stars Above by Marissa Meyer Fantastic Beasts by J.K. Rowling Trayaurus and the Enchanted Crystal by DanTDM

Best Children’s Fiction Book for 2016 Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney Rush Revere and the Presidency by Rush Limbaugh and Kathryn Adams Limbaugh Babies by Gyo Fujikawa Land of Stories: An Author’s Odyssey by Chris Colfer Missy Piggle Wiggle and the Whatever Cure

by Ann M. Martin and Annie Parnell Trials of Apollo Hidden Oracle by Rick Riordan Magnus Chase Hammer of Thor by Rick Riordan Dork Diaries #11 Tales from a Not-SoFriendly Frenemy by Rachel Renee Russell Wonder by R.J. Palacio Ascendance Trilogy #1 False Prince by Jennifer A. Nielsen Fablehaven Book of Imagination by Brandon Mull

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Shaelynn Miller, contributing writer

BABY GIFT GUIDE Do you have newborn babies or expectant parents on your Christmas list

this year? Knowing what to buy for them is sometimes a challenge. Here are a few suggestions from the baby shopping experts at Stork Landing in downtown Logan.

For New Parents: Ju-Ju-Be Diaper Bags: These are “smart bags for smart people.” They come in more than 21 prints, and are designed with thoughtful, functional features, so parents can feel confident and organized no matter the situation.

Moby Wrap: Many parents and babies love the close hugging nature of the Moby Wrap. It was one of the first widely accepted wraps, and is still one of the most trusted, wrap-style carriers. This wrap is great for its range of front-carry, baby-wearing positions and snug hold.

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Visit our candy cane lane for gift ideas, candy canes, and free gift wrap!

99 West Center Street • Logan

435.792.4453

www.shopstorklanding.com

C a c h e Va l l e y F a m i l y M a g a z i n e | H o l i d a y 2 0 1 6 Chewbeads: Every mom knows the pain of watching their baby teethe.

Chewbeads has a full line of silicone teething necklaces, bracelets, teethers and Juniorbeads. The idea of a silicone teething necklace for mom to wear and baby to chew really isn’t unique, but most are bulky, heavy and pick up dirt, hair and fuzz easily.

Chewbeads do not attract debris and are very lightweight. They have a breakaway clasp to avoid choking for mom and the silicone beads (which are free of BPA, phthalate, cadmium, lead and heavy metals) are just right for baby’s sore gums.

For Babies: Nuna Carseat: Lightweight-yetdurable, stylish-yet-functional, this sleek little car seat and base is perfect for new parents who want the latest technology and the latest fashions, all in one. All carseat styles offered at a competitive price.

Little Unicorn Swaddles and Burp Cloths: Little Unicorn is committed to bringing the best quality products they can to the baby industry by making them fashionable and trendy.

Their luxurious bamboo swaddles offer “snuggle time daily” and come in unique, vibrant fabrics. Bonus: Little Unicorn is a local Cache Valley company!

All of these items and many more great holiday gifts for new babies and expectant parents are available at Stork Landing located in downtown Logan at 99 W Center Street.

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HOLIDAY GIFT IDEAS FOR NEIGHBORS & TEACHERS With Christmas just around the corner, you may

Jordyn Haroldsen contributing writer

photo courtesy of agirlandagluegun.com

start to realize how many people you would like to do something for. While it may seem daunting, it is possible to give gifts without overwhelming yourself. Here are some ideas to make your holidays a little easier.

Gift Ideas for Neighbors

Your neighbors are sure to be thankful for a tube of wrapping paper and Scotch tape to help them finish up their own gift giving. Instead of adding to their pile of Christmas sweets, you might think about giving the gift of a dinner they don’t have to cook, and bring over a pot of soup and some rolls. Another thoughtful gift is some new hand soap and a bottle of hand sanitizer, which is always useful during the winter months.

Of course nobody ever said a gift had to be practical.

An entertainment gift could be a box of popcorn and a Redbox code so your neighbors can have a movie night. They might even have fun with the makings for a gingerbread house for them to decorate. Think of

something your neighbors can use to treat themselves, and your gift is sure to be a success.

Gift Ideas for Teachers

Teachers have a huge impact on your children, and the holidays are a wonderful time to show a little appreciation.

Although most teachers will graciously accept another plate of cookies or a coffee mug with “World’s Best Teacher” emblazoned across it, there may be other gifts that would be put to better use.

Consider giving boxes of Kleenex or bottles of hand sanitizer. These are things most classrooms quickly run out, of and many teachers will supply these items for the entire class at their own expense. If you’re unsure of what would be most helpful, consider getting a gift card where they can get what their classroom needs the most.

A group gift might take a little more planning, but it would make a memorable holiday for your child’s teacher. If 20 families from the class could each give $5, they would be able to present the teacher with a gift card or donation valued at $100. The gift should be presented from the whole class, whether each family was able to contribute or not. It may be helpful to check with your school’s office when coordinating such a gift.

A simple, but meaningful, gift could be a note or card from your child. You may also consider writing a note to their teacher. Be specific and tell them a few favorite memories your child has of their class, or something your child has learned from them. These are the most cherished gifts a teacher can ever receive.

The best thing you can do this holiday season is to let the people in your life know they are appreciated. Neighbors and teachers may be able to get by without treats and gifts, but everyone loves a little encouragement.

r

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BECOME A GIFTING LEGEND BY VISITING YOUR LOCAL LIBRARY Adam Winger, library director North Logan City Library

Has anyone ever really thought, “Christmas is coming up, I need to visit the library to find a perfect gift…?” I doubt it, and that’s why I am excited to share a few ideas that might just make you a “holiday rockstar” without breaking the bank.

Don’t believe me? Just keep reading.

Trying to impress my new in-laws with the “perfect” gift proved difficult until I stumbled across some old home movies of my wife in her childhood home. I witnessed the cherished moments of a family — I had only known for a short time — growing together. I loved seeing my beautiful wife as an awkward little tomboy, and watching many of the moments fondly told at family gatherings. Boom! The perfect gift. I began transferring the old videocassettes onto DVDs using a brick-like camcorder and an iMac. For the price of a stack of blank DVDs, a few minutes to finalize the discs and an $8 splurge on a few disc cases, I became a gifting legend. Christmas morning we watched those memories, and now the tradition continues every year.

It is now even easier to transfer your home movies to DVD because, as in North Logan, many libraries offer MakerSpaces where patrons can duplicate analog and digital video to DVD and/or shareable digital files. Simply bring in your VHS or old camcorder, and we can help you convert those memories into a gift that will win you praise for years to come. Don’t despair if you don’t have VHS tapes to transfer. Remember when photos were printed on paper?

Well those photos in shoeboxes and albums can be quickly scanned,

printed and even remixed into videos in little time. Several local libraries have rapid scanners that scan 90 photos per minute onto a thumb drive, giving you the foundation for tremendous gifts. You could simply tie a bow around a stack of pictures, and

share them with high school friends or perhaps quickly design a custom T-shirt or calendar. I use Animoto to create polished videos by simply uploading digital images, choosing a soundtrack and burning to a disc or sharing online.

C a c h e Va l l e y F a m i l y M a g a z i n e | H o l i d a y 2 0 1 6 Maybe you are thinking that with the hustle and bustle of the holiday season you simply don’t have the time to transfer home movies or scan family photos. Many libraries will do the work for you at a fraction of the cost you see online, or consider your nieces or nephews who may love to earn a few extra dollars for the holidays by doing the work for you.

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MakerSpaces offer numerous creative opportunities that range from 3D printing to calligraphy. At the North Logan Library, we recently purchased an AxiDraw that can write your Christmas cards for you using a pen, marker or even a crayon. Using a computer and design software, you can program a mechanical arm to write using beautiful calligraphy or even replicating an image using a

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writing utensil. My favorite creation using the AxiDraw was a reproduction of a 200-year-old map that took less than an hour to produce. 3D printing unleashes a new level of creativity.

As you plan meaningful gifts for the friends and family in your life, visit the libraries in Cache Valley for gifts that will transform you into a “holiday legend.”

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a taste of love LOCAL BAKER TURNS HOBBY INTO BUSINESS Emily Buckley, editor-in-chief

If you don’t know her by name, you may recognize her smiling face.

Margaret Gittins is a Cache Valley native through and through, with roots to the community’s founding fathers. She was raised in Avon, the daughter of Jon and Norene Lee, who ran what is now Paradise Valley Orchards. Her family grew, picked and pressed apples for cider, which seems very fitting since Margaret now has quite a claim to local fame as the Carmel Apple Lady, producing hundreds of beautiful and delicious carmel apples for special events, bake sales, families and businesses around Cache Valley.

Carmel apples aren’t the only treats that come from her in-home, certified kitchen, though. She also makes more than 200 pies each Thanksgiving, and bakes breads, cookies, cake pops and just about any other baked good you could desire for special orders. She also plans, caters and decorates for weddings and other special events.

She and her husband, Jayson, along with their children run BB.Sweet

Shack in Providence during the summer months.

Margaret’s father was a dairy farmer and her mother a homemaker. Their home was regularly filled with the scents of hot bread and homemade cookies. Sitting around the table for a home-cooked meal was the norm, and Margaret was encouraged to learn to cook and bake from a young age.

“Long before the days of Pinterest or Instagram, my mother would create a beautiful table setting, and before anyone could dig in she would take a photo,” Margaret said. “Our lives revolve around food, but that doesn’t have to be a negative thing. My childhood is filled with memories of sitting around the table as a family for a meal, and that is something we’ve carried on into our own home.”

Margaret’s mother passed away 10 years ago, and although Margaret knew how to cook, her mother’s death brought to realization that she wasn’t a “master baker,” and that she didn’t

know how to make some her mother’s traditional recipes.

“It didn’t matter the holiday, my mom was always trying a new or continued recipe tradition,” Margaret said. “She made Sufa Bread (a Swiss holiday bread) every Christmas, and it wasn’t until she was gone that I realized I didn’t know how to make it.”

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Margaret’s mother Norene (far right)

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The loss of her mother encouraged Margaret’s love for baking. She turned to her aunts to learn the family Sufa Bread recipe, and then to a friend’s mother to learn to make old-fashioned Spudnuts. Time passed and Margaret grew to love baking more and more. She found herself making goods for bake sales and events often, so she decided to make it legal and certify, license and insure her kitchen. Her business has grown and evolved to now include BB Events and Planning, offering event planning and catering, and BB Sweet Treats, offering specially ordered baked goods.

Another quality Margaret inherited from her mother was a heart to serve.

“Mom was always taking a meal to someone,” Margaret said. “It was what she could do and so she did it. I learned from her that even if you can’t give a lot of money to those in need, you can share your talents.” Margaret has incorporated this lesson into her life and her business, often “rallying the troops” for bake sales to raise money for worthy causes or families in need.

“I learned so much from my mom,” Margaret said. “I hope she is proud.”

To learn more about Margaret’s business BB Events and BB Sweet Treats, or to make a special order, follow her on Instagram @bb.sweettreats and @bb.events, or visit her website bb.eventsandplanning.com.

On the counter of Margaret’s certified kitchen sits a box of hand-written recipe cards she inherited from her mother and grandmother. They serve as a reminder of her love for them and the lessons they taught her.

Among those treasured recipes is Sufa Bread, a recipe Margaret remembers her mother making every Christmas. This traditional Swiss holiday bread recipe is shared here:

sufa bread

4 cups scalded milk 1 cup warm water 3.5 Tbsp. active yeast 1 cup sugar 2 Tbsp. salt 4 large eggs 11-12 cups flour Mix scalded milk, warm water, sugar and yeast together. Let sit until frothy (about 10 minutes).

Add salt, eggs and flour. Mix in electric mixer for six minutes. Let rise to double its size. Dough will be slightly sticky.

Roll out into 11x13 rectangle and divide into 15 strips. Braid 3 strips together, making 5 loaves.

Let rise 15 minutes.

Bake at 400 degrees for 10 min, then lower to 350 degrees for an additional 30 minutes.

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An Important Step to Solving Reading Difficulties Michael Cole, OD Child and Family Eye Care Center

It is important for parents to know what to do as preliminary steps if they find their child has difficulty reading.

Parents may discover their child has eye coordination and eye tracking problems interfering with learning after trying a variety of educational and behavioral interventions and searching for help for years.

When a student struggles with reading and learning it is important to first rule out the possibility of a vision problem.

Often this can be an eye coordination problem, which means the child will pass most vision screenings in school or at the pediatrician’s office. Vision screenings typically test for how clearly one can see the letters on the eye chart (“20/20”) which is only one of more than 17 visual skills required for reading and learning.

Most children think that everyone sees the same way they do, so they rarely complain. The way they tell you there is a problem is by their behavior.

“A high Verbal IQ combined with a Performance IQ that is 20 points lower should signal the need for an optometric evaluation,” according to Dr. Linda

Silverman, an educational psychologist who has worked with gifted children for more than 40 years.

Further, in The Psych 101 Series: Giftedness 101, by Dr. Silverman, it states: “Large discrepancies between VCI (verbal comprehension) and PRI (perceptual reasoning) are often misinterpreted as signs of abnormal brain functioning (e.g., Nonverbal Learning Disorder). Visual processing weaknesses need to be ruled out and visual remedies sought before diagnosing a child with a more serious Nonverbal Learning Disorder.”

While most people’s concept of vision is based on how clearly they can see things, there is much more to vision.

We need to be able to make sense out of what we see — this is done by processing visual information. There is a specialty service within optometry, called “developmental optometry,” where we evaluate all the visual skills required for academic success as well as success in life.

It is vital that parents and educators know the signs and symptoms of a vision problem. Take a look at the

five most common signs that a vision problem may be interfering with your student’s academic success: 1. Skipping or rereading lines when reading 2. Poor reading comprehension 3. Homework taking longer than it should 4. Reversing letters like “b” into “d” when reading 5. Short attention span with reading and schoolwork If your child has any of the above symptoms, he or she may have a fully correctable vision problem. Don’t assume that because the results of the last vision screening were good that your child does not have a vision problem. If reading is difficult and homework takes longer than it should, your child may not have all the visual skills required for reading and learning.

To find out more about the link between vision and learning, visit covd.org.

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CACHE EDUCATION FOUNDATION REACHES $6 MILLION MILESTONE

Jenda Nye and Lindsay Sousa Cache County School District

Nearly 30 years after its inception, the Cache Education Foundation is making a powerful impact in Cache County School District classrooms.

Founded in 1988 with the goal of providing classroom materials, the CEF has evolved to include much more than that. It now offers support in the form of classroom technology, scholarships for students and a variety of school-based programs and initiatives.

The CEF’s mission is to “assist the Cache County School District in providing a quality teaching and learning environment for students through funds and resources received from conscientious community and business members.” An impressive 100 percent of cash and in-kind donations is passed through to district schools.

The foundation recently reached an important milestone, having provided over $6 million to Cache County schools since its creation. However, this does not adequately capture its most recent growth. In 2015 alone, the CEF was able to distribute nearly $700,000 in funding to local schools. This remarkable achievement was accomplished through generous donations from individuals and businesses, including the Dell Loy & Lynnette Hansen Charitable Foundation.

One CEF grant opportunity that directly benefits students is the Tools for Schools grant. Awarded annually, Tools for Schools provides classrooms with needed books, equipment and other nonconsumable supplies. As part of the grant process, educators submit a request for specific items — up to $200 each — that would support or augment their teaching.

In 2015, more than $134,000 worth of Tools for Schools grants were awarded.

Teachers were presented with everything from hands-on manipulatives, to math board games, to Chromebooks, to lightup globes for geography. “Our goal is that every Tools for Schools grant directly

enhances educational experiences for students,” Teri Lewis, executive director of the CEF, said. “Awards from the grant are generally hands-on learning tools which can be used in the classroom year after year.” This year, the Tools for Schools program is funding supplies for 700 classrooms across the district.

The Daniel Robert Lynch Art Education Program, which is hosted by the CEF, also offers monthly grants to educators, with a specific aim toward purchasing supplies to help integrate art projects into school curriculum. “This is the one area where a teacher can apply for consumables,” Lewis said. “However, it has to be an art project that will directly enhance the student’s education.”

prestigious Hats Off Award. Teacher nominations for this award are submitted by students, parents, administrators, teachers, PTA and school community councils. As part of the award, recipients are given a $500 check.

Meg Erekson, an art teacher at Spring Creek Middle School, won the Hats Off Award in 2016, along with 12 other educators districtwide. She was touched to receive the award. “When you get the award, you get a letter from the person who nominated you and from the principal,” Erekson explained. “I was absolutely speechless. What they had to say was really awesome. It made me feel like I do make a difference, and I really do have a positive influence in the lives of people.”

Lewis gave an example of a class that studied Native American culture. The teacher of this class applied for a curriculum-linked grant, enabling the demonstration of Native American life through the construction of clay pinch pots. “Art education grants have to be curriculum linked,” Lewis said. “If there is a specific activity a teacher wants to do with students that applies to a teaching concept, we will help with that.”

Parents, community members and local businesses are invited to join the CEF in its mission to support local students and administrators. Aside from the traditional donations of cash or in-kind supplies, benefactors can also participate in the foundation’s annual events, such as the Christmas Tree Jubilee dinner and auction or the Driving for Education golf tournament.

In addition to gifting grants for classroom and art supplies, the CEF also recognizes outstanding district educators with the

For more information on the Cache Education Foundation, check out their website at cefut.org.

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Three Tips to Help Your Student Start the New Year Right Frank Schofield, superintendent Logan City School District

As we move through the holiday season, a new calendar year brings discussions of goals or resolutions for the New Year. For those families with children in school, these discussions often include a conversation regarding academic grades. These conversations will take place in a variety of settings as parents work to determine how to best encourage and support the academic

success of their children. In order to make those interactions as productive as possible, here are some principles to keep in mind. I have shared these before, but they bear repeating as we progress through a New Year.

1.

Talk about grades as feedback instead of labels. Instead of labeling a child as an “A” student, or setting goals to get “all As,” discuss the learning that the grades reflect.

By focusing on the learning taking place and not the grade, we help our children stay focused on the purpose of school. Instead of talking about what can be done to “raise their grade,” we can focus our discussions on what can be done to improve learning. Focusing on learning promotes better long-term attitudes about school, and less stress related to the need to get a specific grade.

2. Emphasize the importance of effort and growth. Low grades are not always bad, and high grades shouldn’t suggest students have reached their potential. All children should engage in activities that push them to excel. A love of challenges will help students develop academic and behavioral

skills for future achievement. In the words of Dr. Carol Dweck, “If parents want to give their children a gift, the best thing they can do is to teach them to love challenges, be intrigued by mistakes, enjoy effort and keep on learning. That way, their children don’t have to be slaves of praise. They will build and repair their own confidence.”

3. Listen. When we have discussions with our children about grades, whether they be high or low, we should try to spend more time listening than talking. By asking questions that probe how a child feels about their grades, school and their interests, and then actively listening, we gain a greater understanding of their needs and how we can best support them as parents. Children don’t respond well to conversations they perceive as “nagging.” Listening can help ensure the conversation doesn’t go that direction.

These three simple principles can help any parent ensure that conversations surrounding achievement in school remain positive, and support ongoing success for children.

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Cache Community Food Pantry: Schae Richards, community editor

No donation is too small or too big for the Cache Community Food Pantry. Whether you bring in one can of food or a 100 cans, your donation could help make a world of difference for many neighbors and friends in Cache Valley.

The Cache Community Food Pantry in Logan serves between 700-800 local families each month with the help of about 25 volunteers. Matt Whitaker, director of the Cache Community Food Pantry, said those who seek assistance do so for many reasons including unemployment, disability and medical debt.

While the food pantry temporarily helps with their clientele’s needs, their

INVESTING IN SECOND CHANCES

true purpose is to help them become self-sufficient so they can provide a better future for themselves and their families. “We are providing a second chance for families,” he said. “People get emotional because they have the means to provide for their children.

You see a lot of stress and anxiety melt away.”

The Cache Community Food Pantry also serves and distributes to a variety of different senior centers, food pantries and non-profit organizations throughout Cache Valley and the surrounding areas, including the Logan Senior Center, Brigham Food Pantry and CAPSA. The Cache Community Food Pantry

has sorted, shelved and bagged hundreds of types of food since it was officially founded in 1993, and has catered to their clientele’s needs by bringing about new improvements.

For example, the food pantry opened the doors to its new building in 2012, which presented a scene for new opportunity. “The new building made a world of difference,” Matt said.

“Before, people had to wait outside to get their food. Now, people come in and say, ‘Thank you for doing this for us. We feel like human beings again.’”

The building, located on 359 S Main Street, features shelving that allows more room for volunteers to serve the clientele, and will have solar paneling, which will save the food pantry about

C a c h e Va l l e y F a m i l y M a g a z i n e | H o l i d a y 2 0 1 6 $800 a month, allowing them to allocate those funds elsewhere.

The Cache Community Food Pantry has three food drives each year: The Boy Scout Food Drive in March, the Postal Carrier Food Drive in May and the Holiday Food Drive held the first Saturday in December.

Neighborhoods, schools, businesses and religious groups can hold their

own food drives, and individuals can drop off financial, food (particularly fruits, vegetables and cooking essentials) and material donations during business hours.

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have to pay anything back, but most of them do,” he said.

“We couldn’t do this without the stores, elementary schools and other organizations that hold food drives,” Matt said. “Without the support of the community, we don’t have a program.”

He shared an example of a woman who once came to the food pantry without wearing any shoes. “I asked her where her shoes were, and she said she didn’t own any,” Matt said.

Earlier that day, the food pantry had received a $50 cash donation from another patron. Inspired, Matt gave the woman the money to purchase a pair of shoes to cover her worn feet.

Not long after, the woman returned with not one but two pairs of shoes.

One she had already had on, and the other she handed to Matt as a donation. “It means so much to the people,” Matt said. “They are glad we are here when they need it.”

Matt said those who have received assistance through the Cache Community Food Pantry often give back to the organization to thank them for their support. “They don’t

Distribution times are Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. Learn about upcoming events at cachefoodpantry.com.

The food pantry also has volunteer opportunities, although they are limited. Volunteers get real hands-on experience and have several chances to help with the distribution process, including sorting and bagging. Cash donations are also accepted and are used for miscellaneous purposes.

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Making Memories That Last Longer Than Gifts The holidays are right around the corner, which means it’s time for gifts, good food and family. It really is a wonderful time of year, but as a mom of four, planning for food, parties and thinking of all the gifts can also be stressful.

Holiday planning was already on my radar in September. I was on the Internet searching for gifts I thought my children would be excited about all year. It went on like this for a few days when I finally snapped out of it and realized I don’t have a lot of memories of specific gifts I received growing up. Instead, I have memories of our traditions: the Christmas we were all sick and watched movies all day and the year we donated our Christmas to another family. So this year, instead of focusing on gifts, I’m going to focus on making memories with my family.

4.

5.

6.

7.

Here are a ten memory-making ideas I have:

Happy Holidays!

1.

2.

3.

Light candles and read a Christmas story.

Eat on fancy dishes.

Do “12 days of service” in place of “12 days of Christmas.”

Have a dance party.

L earn a new Christmas song.

Learn about the symbols of Christmas.

Have a hot chocolate bar with lots of fixings.

8. Make holiday cards for each other.

9. Go on a drive to see Christmas lights.

10. Plant a “Christmas flower” (Amaryllis bulb), and watch them grow and bloom.

I hope these ideas will help you create some new memories with your family that will last much longer than gifts.

XOXO

Breanne

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High Levels of Homeownership Create a Healthy Economy

Emily Merkley, association executive Cache-Rich Association of REALTORS®

In addition to producing civic and social benefits, homeownership also produces powerful economic benefits in our local, state and national community economies. The economic benefits of the housing market and homeownership are immense and well documented.

“Homeownership around the valley has everybody feeling the movement, the momentum, and it seems to create a more positive environment,”

explained Dennis Parry of Coldwell Banker Gold Key Realty. “Regardless of what national media reports on the housing sector and economy, the market in Cache Valley is consistent with subtle peaks and troughs, which create a steady, healthy economy.

Homeownership in Cache Valley correlates directly with commerce around the community, and the success of each business is connected with each other.”

A single real estate transaction is connected to the success of other businesses within the local economy, as highlighted in 2015 data from the National Association of REALTORS®, Census Data & National Home Builders Association.

The total economic impact of real estate-related industries also includes the expenditures that result from a home sale, such as real estate brokerage, mortgage lending and title insurance, as well as home repairs and construction materials. For example, when a home is sold in Utah, an average of $14,355 of revenue is generated from real estate-related industries, and an additional average of $4,494 is spent on consumer items such as furniture, appliances and minor improvements.

Kim Phipps of Youngblood Real Estate said homeownership provides “an emotional investment in the community, which means that those established households create stability that contribute to the health of the local economy.”

REALTORS® around the Cache Valley community work hard to aid in the growth and stability of the economy and continue to promote homeownership to help Cache Valley and the surrounding areas thrive.

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OV ERCOMIN G D E NTAL PHOBIA AND AN X IE T Y

Let me start with a confession: Dentists get cavities too.

Here’s another one for you: I don’t like going to the dentist.

It may be something about that high-pitched drill, the office smell (what is that anyway?) or bad memories from childhood. Whatever it is, I empathize with you.

I bet you can think of a hundred reasons to avoid going to the dentist. Maybe you have fallen prey to those negative thoughts and have been away for little longer than you realize, and are now fearful of the initial return. Perhaps you are the hard working type, juggling family and work obligations, and just have difficulty making time for personal care. Whatever the reason, going back to the dentist can seem overwhelming. But don’t give up, the benefits certainly outweigh any potential downside.

Of course I am biased when it comes to dentistry; that comes with the territory. Your teeth and mouth do some pretty amazing things, and as dentists, we strive to help you understand their function and how to care for them.

That should be a big part of your visit. A quick example: saliva. Gross, right? That wonderful liquid has more functions than you may realize. Saliva is laden with all the ingredients to reverse an early cavity. It helps with digestion in both the breakdown of food and lubrication of the food as it is swallowed. It also has immune function and is a natural buffer for acids.

One more example: bacteria. Research estimates the number of bacterial species in the human mouth is between 400-700.

The vast majority of these bacteria are normal inhabitants of the mouth and contribute to overall oral health. There are a few “bad guys” with names like S. mutans and L. acidophilus that act the part of the villain. There are

Josh Durrant, DDS Logan Peak Dental

ways to fight these bacteria, and your dentist can equip you with the tools to do it.

There may be a chance you have some cavities, or possibly some gum issues if it has been a while since your last visit. Take a deep breath: It’s a non-judgment zone in the dental office. We are here to help. Problems that have developed over several years aren’t solved overnight. Let’s start by making a game plan. We’ll address the problems, talk about options and establish a good routine moving forward.

Making Smiles

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Simplify Your Food Preparations for the Holidays Emily Buckley, editor-in-chief

The countdown to Thanksgiving dinner, holiday parties, Christmas Eve feast and many more food-centered celebrations is on. This is one of the most exciting times of the year, but it can also be very stressful, especially for the hostess in charge of all these meals.

Here are a few tips from to help the feast-making and treat-baking as simple as possible during the holidays: • Shop the Sales: During the holidays most grocery stores offer sales and special offerings on unqiue holiday items. For example, Lee’s Marketplace (located locally in Smithfield and North Logan) offers special Holiday Hams only between Thanksgiving and Christmas, and a couple weeks prior to Easter. These simple, but fancy hams, make the main course of a holiday meal the easiest preparation of all.

• Plan Ahead: People often make recipes during the holidays they don’t prepare any other time of year. Many

of these call for staple ingredients you may, or may not, have on hand. “Check your refrigerator and pantry ahead of time to ensure you have enough butter, eggs, flour, sugar, spices and seasonings to get you through your meal and goodie preparation,” said Floyd Salisbury, Lee’s Marketplace bakery manager. “Also, think of the less common ingredients that are common in holiday dishes like mint extract, canned pumpkin, cream cheese, chocolate chips, whipping cream and food coloring.”

Another thing people sometimes forget to plan for are leftovers, Floyd said. “You may want homemade rolls for the main meal, but pick up some fresh rolls to use with your leftovers for the next couple of days.”

• Shop at the Right Time, or Have it Delivered: Grocery stores are typically the busiest two days before Thanksgiving and again on Christmas Eve. To avoid the crowds, consider doing your shopping on different days or early in the morning. Another new, popular option is to have your groceries delivered. Lee’s Marketplace,

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and some other local grocery stores, now offer grocery delivery right to your kitchen, so you never have to step foot into the busy grocery store.

• Buy Some Baked Goods: Lee’s Marketplace makes fromscratch pumpkin pies and dinner rolls with the same wholesome ingredients you use at home, so it may be worth buying time instead of ingredients. Be sure to place your special requests for holiday orders ahead of time to ensure availability.

• Give Up Some of the Work: Save yourself some time by picking up freshly made cheeseballs from the deli and a box of crackers for an appetizer, office party or hostess gift. Another good idea is to keep a veggie or cheese tray on hand for unexpected visitors. You can buy pre-cut produce that will save you time of cutting your fruit and vegetables. To save some extra effort when decorating Christmas cookies, you can buy unfrosted sugar cookies from the bakery in holiday shapes and colored frosting separately so your kids can enjoy decorating.

By implementing these simple tips, you will have less food preparation to stress about and more time to enjoy what matters most this holiday season: your family.

Dr. Robert Garr

Dr. Rudolph Otrusinik

Dr. Jerry Polukoff

Dr. Cindy Tom

Jamie McFarland, NP

Ryan Buck, NP

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GROW BULBS

THIS WINTER

trick tulips, daffodils or crocus into early bloom and enjoy spring flowers ahead of schedule Mark Anderson, owner Anderson’s Seed & Garden

Once the holidays are over, most people have had enough of winter and are chomping at the bit for spring to arrive.

It never comes quick enough!

One thing you can do — and this is especially fun with young children in the house — is to force bulbs inside to enjoy during the long winter months of January and February. You can either chill the bulbs in soil, pots or a paper sack in the refrigerator. Follow this simple recipe to bring flowers to life inside your own home.

First, Chill Out You can chill bulbs in the fridge, but be sure to store them away

from fresh fruits and vegetables that can emit ethylene gas and damage the flowers developing inside the bulbs. Chill potted and bulk bulbs in paper bags.

Unless they’ve been pre-chilled, most flowering bulbs require a period of chilling in 35-45 degree Fahrenheit temperature to root and flower. (This simulated “winter” is not required for amaryllis or paperwhites, which can be simply potted, watered and set in a sunny spot.) The length of time needed for chilling varies by type (see inset box on next page).

C a c h e Va l l e y F a m i l y M a g a z i n e | H o l i d a y 2 0 1 6

Chilling & Blooming Times Daffodils: 12-15 weeks of chilling; 2-3 weeks to bloom after chilling.

Tulips: 10-16 weeks of chilling; 2-3 weeks to bloom after chilling.

Crocus: 8-15 weeks of chilling; 2-3 weeks to bloom after chilling.

Grape hyacinth (Muscari): 8-15 weeks of chilling; 2-3 weeks to bloom after chilling.

Iris reticulata: 13-15 weeks of chilling; 2-3 weeks to bloom after chilling.

Snowdrop (Galanthus): 15 weeks of chilling; 2 weeks to bloom after chilling.

Hyacinth: 12-15 weeks of chilling; 2-3 weeks to bloom after chilling.

The larger a bulb is, the more flowers it will produce, so whatever type of flower you decide to force grow, buy the largest bulbs you can find. You’ll know it is a good bulb if it is firm, free from nicks and bruises and doesn’t have sprouted roots yet.

Second, Potting Most bulbs will thrive when planted in a potting soil mix. Always start with clean pots and fresh mix.

1.

Plan ahead. Purchase your bulbs early, either at a garden center, nursery or mail-order source.

Ensure the pot you are going to use is clean, has a drainage hole and is at least twice as deep as the bulbs (to allow for proper root growth). Fill the pot half-full of potting soil mix.

2. Place as many bulbs as possible

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in the pot without letting them touch. A six-inch-wide pot can hold up to six tulips, three daffodils or 15 minor bulbs (i.e., crocuses or grape hyacinths).

For a thick show, layer more than one kind of bulb in the same pot by placing larger bulbs on bottom so they will grow around the smaller ones. If the two bulbs you want to combine have different chilling and blooming schedules, you can plant them separately in small plastic containers and combine them once they begin to bloom.

3. Cover the bulbs with potting soil mix and leave just their tips peeking through. Water the bulbs thoroughly, and label each pot with the bulb name and plant date. Then, loosely cover the pot with a paper bag and place it in a cool (35 - 45 degree Fahrenheit), dark storage spot to chill (see inset box for individual bulb chilling times).

4. Check the moisture in the pot periodically. You want the soil to remain damp, but not wet. When the chilling period is complete, roots will be poking from the bottom of the pot and green sprouts will begin emerging at the bulb tips. When this occurs, it is time to move the potted bulbs into a warm room.

5. Once flower buds form, move potted bulbs into a sunny spot.

Continue to keep the soil damp.

When flowers appear, move the pot out of direct sun to make the blooms last longer. After the blooms fade and wither, toss everything into the compost.

(Most forced bulbs use up their energy and won’t bloom again.)

Nothing rewards or fulfills as much as watching forced bulbs bloom inside during the winter. Hopefully these easy steps will help you on your way to successful flowers and wintertime happiness.

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5 WAYS TO PREVENT ILLNESS

Barrett Labrum, DO Primary Care Pediatrics

With winter weather comes the opportunity to share good tidings of joy and love. Along with all the hugs and kisses, comes the sharing of infectious diseases. A common question pediatricians hear is, “How do we prevent our families from getting sick?”

Here are five simple steps that will help you avoid the cough and cold season: 1.

Wash your hands. While this seems too simple to make a difference, it’s the best way to prevent spreading diseases. Hospitals spend thousands of dollars annually training and monitoring staff on hand washing techniques because they know that it is one of the most effective methods of reducing infections. Soap and water is still recommended as the best way to take care of germs in your home.

2. Sneeze in your sleeve. This goes along with keeping your hands clean. Teach your children to use a tissue or their sleeve instead of their hands.

3. Clean your home. Disinfecting toys in the daycare or nursery seems like a no-brainer, but how often are we doing this in our homes? Cleaning toys with a commercial cleaner or bleach goes a long way to help your children stop spreading germs.

4. Practice proper food handling.

While many of us expect this to occur in a restaurant, we need to make sure that it is happening in our own kitchen. Studies have shown that good food handling is not occurring in most homes. Avoid cooking if you are sick. Practice good food handling techniques

with meat and other foods that may contaminate your kitchen. Throw away leftovers if they have been sitting out for too long.

5. Stay home when you are sick.

This not only means to stay home from work, but avoid going to the grocery store and taking your kids to public places. I often get asked when kids can return to school.

Answer: Keep them home if they are ill and have a fever. They can return to school or daycare when their fever has resolved for 24 hours.

If they are still feeling weak or run down, let them rest. Children with vomiting illnesses or acute onset diarrhea should also stay home.

Follow these guidelines to decrease the spreading of germs and keep your family healthy this winter.

Craig Armstrong, MD Nina Jorgensen, MD Barrett Labrum, DO Stacie Mecham, PNP Cody Wilson, DO

We’re here to help you make it through cold and flu season.

Our sick clinic is open until 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday and Saturday mornings.

New patients of all ages welcome. • Most insurances accepted. • 2380 North 400 East • Logan • 435-753-7337

C a c h e Va l l e y F a m i l y M a g a z i n e | H o l i d a y 2 0 1 6

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HOLIDAY SUGAR COOKIES Sherelle Christensen sherellechristensen.typepad.com

I grew up looking forward to making sugar cookies with my family every Christmas. Now that my kids are getting a little older, it’s hard to find time to cut out and decorate each cookie.

We still wanted to enjoy one of our favorite holiday treats, so we started baking these simple sugar cookies.

They have that delicious sugar cookie taste without all the extra time and mess of using cookie cutters and coloring frosting.

• 1 cup butter, softened • 3/4 cup canola or vegetable oil • 1 cup sugar • 2 tsp. vanilla extract • 2 Tbs. water • 2 eggs • 1/2 tsp. baking soda

• 1/2 tsp. cream of tartar • 1/2 tsp. salt • 5 1/2 cups flour Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Cream butter, oil and sugar in a large mixing bowl or mixer until smooth. Add water, vanilla and eggs, and mix well. Add remaining ingredients and continue to mix. Place about 1/4 cup of sugar into a small bowl, spoon dough using a medium-sized cookie scoop, and roll into a ball shape. Place dough onto a lightly greased cookie sheet. Use a glass bottom to flatten the cookie by first dipping it into the bowl of sugar and then pushing down on the top of the cookie. Bake cookies for 10-12 minutes, and then place on a cooling rack. Once cookies are cool, frost and add sprinkles.

Seven Cookie Decorating Tips Sarah Romero, recipe contributor

Decorating cookies with your kids is a fun activity to celebrate the holidays. It’s also the perfect recipe for sticky faces, frosting-stained clothes, a messy kitchen and complete chaos. Here’s a list of seven things to help minimize the mess and stress: 1.

Cover the table: Lay craft paper or a disposable tablecloth on the table and fold and tape it over the edges for an easy clean up. You can almost guarantee sprinkles and frosting will land on the floor, so spread one under the table as well.

2. Use pre-cut frozen cookies: To simplify the process, try pre-cut frozen cookies. All you have to do is bake!

3. Overcook the cookies: Harder cookies are easier to decorate than softer ones. You may want to slightly overcook the cookies you decorate. (But feel free to undercook the ones you eat, because they seem to taste better that way!)

4. Use piping bags: Piping bags help minimize the mess and make frosting cookies much easier for children. If you don’t have piping bags, simply

Cream Cheese Frosting • 4 oz. cream cheese, softened • 1/4 cup butter, softened • 1 tsp. vanilla extract • 2 cups powdered sugar • 2 tsp. milk Mix well.

spoon the frosting into large Ziploc bags and snip the corner off about 1/4 inch up.

5. Get the right consistency: Make sure the icing isn’t too thick, so the kids can squeeze it, but thick enough, so it won’t run all over the place.

6. Buy cheap sprinkles: A lot of the sprinkles will end up on the floor. Buy them cheap. Also, avoid buying sphere sprinkles that will roll.

7. Be prepared: Keep paper towels, paper plates, wax paper and wipes handy.

These simple steps will help to minimize the mess. Now, sit back and watch the fun.

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C a c h e Va l l e y F a m i l y M a g a z i n e | H o l i d a y 2 0 1 6

stay safe in winter sports Winter brings many outdoor activities for children to enjoy.

However, winter activities such as sledding, skiing, snowboarding and skating result in thousands of injuries for children each year. The good news: Many injuries can be prevented by following a few simple tips: • Wear proper gear. This may include shin guards, mouth guards and especially helmets when kids are skiing, snowboarding or playing ice hockey. Make sure your child wears a helmet that is appropriate for the sport.

• Stay hydrated. Encourage kids to drink plenty of water before, during and after play. Compared to adults, children are at an increased risk of dehydration even in cold temperatures.

BreeAnn Silcox, coalition coordinator Bear River Health Department

• Wear warm clothing. It’s also a good idea to have kids come indoors periodically to prevent hypothermia or frostbite.

• Cover your skin. Use sunscreen to protect your child from the sunlight, which reflects off the snow.

• Ask for a lesson. Give your child a snowboarding or skiing lesson before they head to the slopes. This will give them the necessary skills to not only reduce their frustrations but also their risk of injury.

By following the simple rules outlined here, your children can stay safe as they enjoy their favorite outdoor winter activities. For more information, call the Bear River Health Department at (435) 792-6510 or visit safekids.org.

505 East 1400 North • Logan

435-753-3339

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